Program at Bush Intercontinental helps children with disabilities cope with the stress of airports and planes

The Arc hosted a Wings for All event, designed to alleviate some of the stress that people with disabilities and their families experience when traveling by air. The children and their families ran through a "practice" scenario going through check in, sec

Video: Brett Coomer

Max Hood pored over his "Lego Star Wars Character Encyclopedia" while waiting at gate 12 in Bush Intercontinental Airport. He used an LG phone to take pictures, and he spoke with other children sitting nearby.

And just in case it got too loud - certain decibels give him anxiety - Max had ear defenders decorated with No. 3 for the late NASCAR racer Dale Earnhardt. The 12-year-old has high-functioning autism, and Tuesday was his first time at an airport.

"It was wonderful," he said.

For his mother, Helga Hood, the trip was a dry run to get Max acclimated to the airport. She said his anxiety decreases after experiencing something a few times.

Dry run takes some of the stress out of flying

1of11Emily Hunter, 5, and Rilee Hunter, 3, look out a window at a United airliner following a simulated flight at George Bush Intercontinental Airport on Tuesday.Photo: Brett Coomer, Staff

2of11Maria Rodriguez, left, and Daniel Lozano go through security as part of a Wings for All event at George Bush Intercontinental Airport on Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2015, in Houston. The Arc hosted a Wings for All event, designed to alleviate some of the stress that people with disabilities and their families experience when traveling by air. The children and their families ran through a "practice" scenario going through check in, security and boarding an airplane. ( Brett Coomer / Houston Chronicle )Photo: Brett Coomer, Staff

3of11Participants in a Wings for All event board a United 737 for a simulated flight at George Bush Intercontinental Airport on Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2015, in Houston. The Arc hosted a Wings for All event, designed to alleviate some of the stress that people with disabilities and their families experience when traveling by air. The children and their families ran through a "practice" scenario going through check in, security and boarding an airplane. ( Brett Coomer / Houston Chronicle )Photo: Brett Coomer, Staff

4of11Pilot Todd Beckman talks to Amy Johnson and Katey Graham as they board a United 737 for a Wings for All simulated flight.Photo: Brett Coomer, Staff

5of11Zac Como, left, Daniel Lozano and Maria Rodriguez take their seats aboard a United 737 for a simulated flight as part of a Wings for All event at George Bush Intercontinental Airport on Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2015, in Houston. The Arc hosted a Wings for All event, designed to alleviate some of the stress that people with disabilities and their families experience when traveling by air. The children and their families ran through a "practice" scenario going through check in, security and boarding an airplane. ( Brett Coomer / Houston Chronicle )Photo: Brett Coomer, Staff

6of11Shannon Stilwell sits with her sons Kieran, 7, and Finley, 8, aboard a United 737 for a simulated flight as part of a Wings for All event at George Bush Intercontinental Airport on Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2015, in Houston. The Arc hosted a Wings for All event, designed to alleviate some of the stress that people with disabilities and their families experience when traveling by air. The children and their families ran through a "practice" scenario going through check in, security and boarding an airplane. ( Brett Coomer / Houston Chronicle )Photo: Brett Coomer, Staff

7of11Helga Hood, left, sits with her son, Max, aboard a United 737 during a Wings for All simulated flight at George Bush Intercontinental Airport on Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2015, in Houston. The Arc hosted a Wings for All event, designed to alleviate some of the stress that people with disabilities and their families experience when traveling by air. The children and their families ran through a "practice" scenario going through check in, security and boarding an airplane. ( Brett Coomer / Houston Chronicle )Photo: Brett Coomer, Staff

8of11Passengers participating in a Wings for All simulated flight take they seats aboard a United 737 at George Bush Intercontinental Airport on Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2015, in Houston. The Arc hosted a Wings for All event, designed to alleviate some of the stress that people with disabilities and their families experience when traveling by air. The children and their families ran through a "practice" scenario going through check in, security and boarding an airplane. ( Brett Coomer / Houston Chronicle )Photo: Brett Coomer, Staff

9of11Katey Graham gives her son, James, a drink while aboard a United 737 during a Wings for All simulated flight at George Bush Intercontinental Airport on Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2015, in Houston. The Arc hosted a Wings for All event, designed to alleviate some of the stress that people with disabilities and their families experience when traveling by air. The children and their families ran through a "practice" scenario going through check in, security and boarding an airplane. ( Brett Coomer / Houston Chronicle )Photo: Brett Coomer, Staff

10of11Finley Stilwell, 8, walks off a United 737 following a simulated flight at George Bush Intercontinental Airport on Tuesday, conducted by Wings for All.Photo: Brett Coomer, Staff

11of11John Salvi, 6, holds hands with Maria Salvi as they walk out of the jetway following a simulated flight at George Bush Intercontinental Airport on Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2015, in Houston. The Arc hosted a Wings for All event, designed to alleviate some of the stress that people with disabilities and their families experience when traveling by air. The children and their families ran through a "practice" scenario going through check in, security and boarding an airplane. ( Brett Coomer / Houston Chronicle )Photo: Brett Coomer, Staff

"It's our first step into the door of flight," she said.

Airports can be a stressful experience, and more so for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Wings for All, held Tuesday for the second time at Bush Intercontinental, is designed to take away some of the anxiety.

The event was like an airport rehearsal. Individuals with disabilities and their families received boarding passes, checked luggage and went through security.

They waited in the terminal, some children riding the moving sidewalk and others snacking on Auntie Anne's pretzels. The roughly 80 participants then boarded a United Airlines Boeing 737-900 and pretended it was flying. The pilot made announcements about the weather, and flight attendants offered water, juice and Goldfish crackers.

"This gives them an opportunity to go through the entire process in a less-stressful environment," said Ken Whittaker, manager of customer service for Bush Intercontinental.

It's important for children with intellectual and developmental disabilities to stick to a routine. And going to the airport is out of that routine, said Alexa Schoeman, who does policy and advocacy work for the Arc of Texas, the statewide chapter of a nationwide organization that advocates for and serves people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families.

Schoeman said going to the airport can mean waking up at a different time and packing favorite toys. There are new rules, sights and sounds that can cause anxiety.

"It's stressful for all of us, with or without a disability," she said. The Arc hosted the event in partnership with Bush Intercontinental, United, the Transportation Security Administration and the Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism.

Some families have already noticed improvements. Eloisa and Alan Villareal brought their twin 11-year-old sons, Elijah and Earl, for the second time Tuesday. Both sons have autism and are sensitive to sound.

"This is better compared to the first time," Eloisa said.

In April, they had to drag both sons down the jetway connecting the terminal to the plane. On Tuesday, Elijah was excited and boarded the plane without any issues. Earl was a little nervous and needed some persuasion.

The Villareals are hoping to visit family in the Philippines, and they want the flight to be a pleasant experience for their sons.

Wings for All is also an opportunity to train airport and airline employees on interacting with and assisting fliers with disabilities and their families. Volunteers attended a training session Monday.

Stephanie Green, a flight attendant with United, said airline professionals and the general public are becoming more educated about intellectual and developmental disabilities.

This public awareness, she said, helps people be more compassionate.

And having a 5-year-old-son, John Robert Green, on the autism spectrum, Green gave a tip for improving compassion. If a child is having a meltdown, don't think about that child as giving the parents a hard time. Think about the child as having a hard time.

Green was able to bring John Robert and her 3-year-old son Grayson Green, who isn't autistic, to the event Tuesday. It was the first time either had been on a plane.

In addition to becoming more familiar with airports and airplanes, she said, it allowed them to "see what I actually do when I leave on a trip."